Automotive electric equipment



Jan. 15, 1935. L. A. KOCH, JR 1,988,429

AUQOMOTIVE ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT Filed May 31, 1932 Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to means and apparatus for directing human attention to display copy and can be classed as an advertising device. And it belongs to that class in which external and/ or internal light is employed with reference to a legend carried by a light case in which artificial light is produced, distributed and controlled.

An object is to produce a commanding advertising device, intended primarily for use on vehicles and at a low cost with very long life.

A further object is to provide durable means for mounting the display legend together with facilities for expeditiously changing the copy at a very low cost.

To assist in disclosing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which is incorporated into this specification.

Figure 1 is a face view of the advertising device or lamp shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1 with a portion of the case broken away in order that the cover glass, or other transparent medium can be sho in cross section.

Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing of a circuit, switch, lamps and kindred apparatus to eifectcertain controls.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of an alternative type of cover glass that can be employed.

10 is a metallic case of truncated cone structure formed with a base flange 11 and left open in order that the cover glass unit can be securely and readily mounted thereon by means of bezel 12, onto the flange of which are formed perforated and threaded lugs 13, for receiving screws 14 radially disposed so that when these screws are driven in they will contact with the tapering wall 10a of case 10, the contacting points of which will slide rearwardly and thereby cause said bezel to snugly embrace the cover glass which is protected and sealed at its periphery with a gasket 15 in order that the cover glass, as well as the case, will be sealed by same.

Numeral 18 indicates a stencil or film, disposed between inner cover glass 16 and outer cover glass 17, suitably organized to effect a message when subjected to a light emanating from a source within case 10.

By employing the structure disclosed herein a ready means for changing this message is provided. All that is necessary to effect a change is to loosen screws 14 and remove bezel 12 which releases the cover glass unit for proceeding with the next operation for the change, which consists of removing gasket 15, which is preferably formed of plastic material such as electricians tape. This tape is preferably applied to the faces of the plates 16, 17 adjacent the entire peripheral edges, thus effecting a seal and uniting the lamina: into a composite whole. Access is now had to the film 18 for change. The reverse order is pursued for reorganizing or assembling.

In place of the cover glass composed of laminae a unitary cover glass as shown in Fig. 4 can be employed. It is composed of a substantially clear glass 20 in the center, on which is flashed a surface 21 of a given color while the other surface 22 is of a different color. These surfaces can be etched or sandblasted to remove selected areas according to desired hieroglyphic or other legendary displays. The removed areas of one surface are staggered with reference to certain undisturbed areas of the other surface and vice versa, which, with normal external and a controlled internal light source provide means for a broad range of designs and striking effects. Both of these cover glasses, unitary and composite structures, are so arranged and related that external light will produce one effect or message while internal light will produce an entirely different effect. By way of illustration clear glass 20 can be fused with an external red surface 22 and an internal surface blue, each surface being altered to present bared areas as shown in Fig. 4.

Without internal lamps 30 emitting rays of light and the assembly exposed to outside light the surface 22 will be red except for the bared surfaces which can be used to convey a message. With the outside light extinguished, diminished or over-powered by an internal light the cover glass will now present a purple cast due to blending of the red and blue flashed surfaces, except from the altered areas which will present hues controlled by the undistributed opposite surfaces, therefore we will have a general purplish cast with certain sections emanating red and others emanating blue tints which can be used to delineate a message, et cetera.

The undisturbed flashed areas on cover glass 20 will cause reflection of the light emanating from lamps 30 back into the case, a part of same being reflected from the outer flashed area back through the body at 200 by reason of portions of inner area having been removed, and on to the diffusing area of the case. The diffusing surface 10b which can cover the entire inside area of the case, together with the spaced lamps and the reflected light rays from the cover glass are all combined to render the light effects more uniform. lit-U 55 In a cover glass made of mediums or laminae a corresponding effect will be produced as light rays are similarly absorbed and reflected from the inside member 16, especially when reflecting material is fixed to or forms a part of the film 18.

In Fig. 3, a plurality of lamps are indicated at 30 which are mounted on the inner surface of the case in a conventional form which is also treated to diffuse the light emanating from the lamps. The electrical circuit supplying these lamps is led through switch 31, provided with a pair of contacts carried on flexible members 3233 insulated from one another as shown. ,It'

is at once apparent that the lights remainburning continuously, however they aresubject-to' inter=' ruption by depression of flexible member 33- under the control of vibrating arm 34: secured at end 34a while at the remote free end there is a weight 35 held in a state of equilibrium by arrnfifi which is pivoted at its end 36a while its central body carries a slot 36b in whiehis disposeda stationary pin 37 .and articulated with sliding bar 88. This bar is connected to apivoted arm 39', which when depressed will remove the prop from 34 by causing arm 3.6 to swing in the direction indicated by the arrow. As this structure is organized to be unstable for a relatively long period 'oftime when the prop is removed a vibrating period of switch 31 will result .in first' opening; the circuit and then. closing it. Flashing of the lamps 30' will follow for practically sixty seconds, provided arm 39 is not restored to the position shown in the figure.

Modification and alteration in the structure disclosed can be indulged without departing from the spirit of my invention, therefore I wish to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an illuminated sign comprising a substantially light tight cone case having an outwardly extending flange, a glassg'disc bearing against said flange, a cushioning member between .the disc and said flange, an L-shaped bezel enclosing said member, the glass disc and the flange ap-ertured lugs extending rearward from the bezel,

fastening means extending through the apertured lugs and eng agin g the flared wall of the casing to hold the bezel, the .disc and the cushioning member against the flange.

2. In an illuminated sign comprising a substantially light tight cone case having an outwardly extending flange, a glass disc bearing against said flange, a cushioning member between the disc and said flange, and L-shaped bezel enclosing' said member, the glass disc and the flange, lugs extending rearward from the bezel, fastening means cooperating with the lugs and engaging the flared Wall of the casing to hold the bezel, the disc and the cushioning member against the flange.

, LOUIS A. KOCH, JR. 

